Ceiling structure



March 9, 1943. V s P WALKER ETAL 2,313,687

CEILING STRUCTURE Filed May 6, 1940 f Sheets-Sheet l 'March 9, 1943. s. P. WALKER ETAL CEILING STRUCTURE Filed May, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 9, 1943. s. P. WALKER Erm. 2,313,687

- CEILING STRUCTURE Filed May 6, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mach 9, 1943. s. P. WALKER ETAL 2,313,687

CEILING STUCTURE Filed May e, 1940 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Mar. 9, 1943 :sum1

Stephen P. Schramm.'

States i poration o! Illinois I immature. im, serials.

1s cum. (ci. iss-ss) I l This invention relates to ceilings and more particularly to sound absorbent illuminated ceilings of the suspended type.

ceilings or this type usually comprise a suitable framework suspended froml a. permanentceiling or other suitable substructure and supporting preformed perforated or foraminous tile and lsound absorbent material on suitable furring'strips or runners. Various types of preformed acoustical tile may, of course. be used. However. the tile in the embodiment disclosed herein are preferably perforated sheet `metal panels having upturned edges forming 1 beadediianges adapted for removable .engagement with-the supporting runners.

The panels or so-called tile may support suitlfable sound absorbent material which may be spaced therefrom by means of a grid or the like 4 supported in the panel, and the entire structure, when :assembledI provides an eilectiv'e sound absorbent ceiling.

It is'an object of the present invention to. provide Yan illuminated. sound absorbent ceiling structure in which vthe illumination is preferably of a nuores'cent type and wherein the ceiling comprises paneled spaces or strips with comparatively narrow coller spaces therebetween. Elongated trough-like reiiectors having tubular fluorescent lighting units associated therewith are supported `inthe coier spaces' withV the open sides of the.

reilectors substantially the pane1s.` u

flush with the surface of Another object is the vprovision of a suitable framework' particularly Aadapted to removably support the panels and renector units and control units associated therewith, and in which the entire structure may quickly and easily be manufactured and 'installed at a minimum expense.

A further object is the provision of an effective sound absorbent mounting for the wiring channels er so-called control housings in which are enclosed and supported all'of the control elements. including the wiring, sockets, and other apparatus for supporting and energizing the usual iluorescent tubes or lamps.v Any suitable control elements may be used in the cont-rol housings, as the control elements per se form no part of the present invention and the control assemblies, including `the housings or channels and elements4 therein, may be referred to herein as control units. The mounting for the control units is particularly eiective in eliminating the usual 'sixty-cycle hum which is often an objectionable feature of this type of lighting equipment.

Another object is therprovision of a new and novel means for supporting baille platesin the CEILING STBUCTUIE omen, m.. admon to United j(immun Companvchiealo. a correflector whereby they may `easily be inserted or removed and at the same time are hinged in such a manner that they may easily be unlatched and suspended from one side of the reilector to enable the convenient insertion`and removal o! the fluorescent tubes or to permit other servicing fof the device.

It'is also an object 'to provide suitable panel and reflector supporting brackets and a novel relationship thereof in the complete assembly, whereby the entire ceiling may very quickly and easily be assembled, and whereby the comparatively rigid and strong reflector is so .supported and related to the rest of the structure as to assist in retaining the ceiling surface in horizontal alignment. i

The invention alsocontemplates the provision of an illuminated sound absorbent ceiling structure in which the light is more evenly distributed and sharp line cut-oils and consequent contrasts are prevented, particularly adjacent the junction.

Various elements are l of the reflectors and tile. also adjustable to enableaccurate alignment o! the tile land reflectors in the same plane.

Further objects will be apparent from the specification and the appended claims.

In the drawings: ll'ig. 1 is a bottom view of a portion .of a ceiling A#and illustrates `one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 yis a top view of the embodiment illusv:rateo in Fig. 1.

Fig.y 3 is a transverse sectional view through the embodiment shown-in Figs. 1 and 2, and is taken on a line substantially corresponding to lines 3-3 thereof.

Fig. 4 is a `fragmentary sectional view taken on a line substantially corresponding to lines 4--4 of Figs. 2 and 3. and illustrates the overlapping joint fof the reflector sections and also the general assembly and relationship of the supporting elements. Y

Fig. 51s e. top view or the joint of the overlapping reector sections.

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view through the overlapping joint of the reflector sections and is taken on ya line substantially corresponding to lines 6-6 of Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional View through the reflector and wiring channel or control unit and illustrates the method of mounting the barile plates.

Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective view ol the slotted portion of the reflector and the hinge end of the baille plate which is adapted to be inserted in the slot` l arrangement for supporting the furring strip and reflectors.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detai1 View partiallyin section of clips adapted to support the furring strip shown in Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the embodiment illustrated comprises a plurality of transverse furring members or bars I of a conventional type, preferably channel irons or the like, and these members may be supported from a permanent ceiling or other substructure by means of suitable wires or cables 2, any number of which may be used in order properly to support the furring'members I. The furring miembers are provided with dependent L-shaped hangers 3 which may be secured to the furring members in any suitable manner, preferably by being wired thereto as shown at 4. The hangers 3 are alsopreferably channel irons of a suitable size so that their flanges fit over the furring then moved laterally so that they rest upon and engage the vibration material I5.

The control unit housings I6 are secured to and supported by the cross bars I8 by means of bolts or screws I9. This method of mounting prevents any appreciable transfer of the usual 60 cycle hum from the housing to the ceiling structure.

Trough-like reflector sections 20 are adapted to be mounted in the coder spaces and with their lower edges substantially flush` with the face of the tile 9. These reflectors may be substantially bell shaped in cross section and flare outwardly adjacent their lower edges to form a comparamembers I, as shown in Fig. 3, and properly retain the hangers in alignment.

The hangers 3 are spaced throughout the ceiling structure to provide alternate panel spaces and coffer spaces between 'rows of hangers, as shown particularly in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and the downwardly extending arms of the hangers are arranged to support suitable sheet metalrunners 5 in the manner shown in detail in Fig. 10.

As disclosed in Fig. 9,-the runners 5 each comprise a horizontal body portion 6 having inturned edges with downwardly extending converging flanges 1. The flanges I are provided adjacent their lower edges with beads 8 which are adapted to receive` the upwardly extending flanges of preformed perforated metal panels 9 in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The flanges of the panels 9 are each 'provided with a bead I0 for co-operation with the beads 8 of the runners. By means of this construction a row of panels such as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may removably be mounted between adjacent runners as in Fig. 3. A grid or the like II may be supported in each panel 9, and this grid may be made of wire or any suitable construction to support a sound absorbent pad I2 in spaced relation on the panel or tile.

In order to support the lamp control units, a channel iron I3 is secured to each row of hanger arms 3 by means of bolts I4, as in Figs. 3 and'4, or wire ties may be used, and at suitable intervals a resilient pad of shock absorbing material I5 such as felt is wrapped around the channel iron I3 in any suitable manner, for instance, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The lighting elements which aremounted in the elongated coller spaces provided between the rows of panels comprise elongated wiring channel sections or so-called control units I6 which are of substantially the same length as the reflector sections. In ordinary practice, these units and sections may be substantially four feet long, although of course any suitable length may be used. The housings of the control units are preferably sheet metal substantially as shown in Fig. 3, and are provided at their lower edges with outturned flanges I1, which may or may not be attached to the reflector by self threading sheet metal screws.v Cross bars i8 are provided with U-shaped hooked ends I6. and these bars are slightly longer than the space between the channel irons I3 whereby they may be placed over the channel irons and tively large radius light diffusing arc at 2I, which arc forms. substantially a continuation of the panel surface. That is, the panel surface is substantially tangent to the arcuate surface of the edge portion of the reflector. An important object of this arcuate formation of the reflector at this point is to cause a considerable diffusion of light along the line of the edge of the reilector and prevent the sharp light' cut-off line and consequent contrast adjacent the juncture of the reflector and tile which is usual in this type of ceiling illumination. The outer edges of the reflector unit are provided with upturned ilanges 22, which, when the ceiling is assembled, are closely adjacent the upturned flange of the tile 9 so that there is no appreciable space therebetween.

Spaced holes are provided in the edges of the reflector sections whereby the reflectors may be secured to clamping brackets 23 by means of f' screws 24, before or after the brackets are mountcd on the runners 5, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 9. These brackets are adjustable longitudinally on the runners 5 to conform with the spacing of the holes in the reflector sections through which the screws 24 extend. The brackets comprise a downwardly extending reflector supporting vmember 25 having a shoulder 26 thereon which engages the runner 5, as shown., The brackets are secured in spaced relation and clamped to the'runner by means of the outwardly extending clamp member 21, the outer end of which forms a hook portion 28 which engages around the outer edge of the runner. The two bracket members 25 and 21 are then secured together by means of a bolt 28.

As previously stated, the runners 5 are supported on the depending channel iron hangers 3 of the suspended framework and are secured thereto by one of the hanger brackets 23a by means of a bolt 29. The brackets 23a are slotted at 30 to enable alignment of the runners 5 all in the same plane irrespective of any inaccuracies in the framework. The reilectors are not secured to the hanger brackets 23a which support the runners, but only to the intermediate brackets 23 by means of screws 24. The reflector supporting brackets 23 are longitudinally adjustable on the runners to correspond with the holes in the reflectors. The reflectors are preferably always supported by the intermediate longitudinally adjustable bracket assemblies 23 (Fig. 9), and a number of these brackets, preferably three, may be mounted between the hanger arms 3.

The runners 5 are preferably made of comparatively light material and consequently are somewhat flexible, and it is desirable that the reilectors, which are comparatively rigid members,

` should assist in maintaining the alignment and rigidity of the ceiling. For this reason the hangers 3 are preferably spaced substantially the same distance apart as the length of the reflectors and associated control units, which, in the present embodiment, are substantially four feet long. The hangers are therefore spaced so that one hanger may be positioned adjacent each end of a reflector. For instance, they may be approximately as shown in Fig. 4-that ls, adjacent the overlapping joint of the reflector sections.

In order that the reflectors may be rigidly supported relative to the hangers, one of the adjustable runner brackets 23 is positioned closely adjacent each hanger for each reflector section. One or more of the brackets 23 are positioned intermediate the end brackets of each reflector section and, as these adjustable brackets are all of the reflector are supported closely adjacent each hanger, the rigid reflector retains the flexible runner 5 and the panels supported thereon in horizontal alignment. The fact that the brackets 23 are adjustable on the runner 5 between the dependent hangers 3 is of great importance in maintaining all of the ceiling elements in alignment and at the same time enabling the use of few parts of comparatively light weight. Also, in case of misalignment at any time, it is only necessary to remove the reflectors and readiust `the brackets on the hangers 3.

Fig. is a side elevation, partially in section, of one of the brackets adapted solely for support l of the runner 5. As previously stated, the reflector is not secured to the runner-supporting bracket. Therefore, in this embodiment the dependingrportion of the bracket member.25 is omitted and an L-shaped runner-claiming member 25a substituted therefor, and by which the runners may be clamped and secured as shown.

In assembling the ceiling, the runners 5 are first secured to the depending hangers 3 and the control units I6 are mounted on the sound-absorbent pads I5 on the cross bars I3. The reilector unit may then be pushed upwardly against the flanges of the control housing I6, as shown in Fig. 3, and the resilient insulating material I5 on which the reactance housing is supported e'nables sumcient self-adjusting movement of the housing to allow accurate locating` and assembly of the reflector on the runner brackets 23. The preferred cross sectional shape of the reflector unit is illustrated in Fig. '1 and, as previouslv stated. these units are in sections prefereblv about 4 feet in length, and the ends of the sections are provided with overlapping portions as illustrated at 3| (Figs. 4. 5 and 6) Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top view of the abutting and overlapping ends of the reflector sections shown in Fig. 4. One end of each reflector is provided with a sheet metal strip 3I welded thereto so that itoverlaps the abutting end of the adjacent reflector as shown in Fig. 6.,.. rIhe central portions` of these 'sections are' merely brought together in abutting relation, as indicated at 32, and do not overlap. By this construction, the inner surfaces of the reflectors are retained in alignment. The overlapping strips may be secured by the usual thread-forming f secured to the edge of the reflector and the ends screws 33. The reflector ends are also notched as it 34 to provide space for the lamp sockets 35 to extend downwardly therethrough from the control unit housings I6 in which they are mounted. Fuorescent tubes 36 may be removably supported in the sockets 35. The ends of the control housings I6 are overlapped 1n the same manner as the reflectors, as shown in Fig. 4, by means oLa strip Ita.

The reflectors are provided with transverse baille plates 31 which are shown in detail ln Figs. 'I and 8. These baille plates may be of sheet metal and are provided with reduced end portions 38 and 39, and the reflectors are provided with oppositely disposed slots 40 and 4I as shown. These slots are of just sufficient width to receive the reduced ends of the baille plates, and the slot 4I) is provided with a lateral extension slot 42 (Fig. 8) through which a laterally extending lug 43 on the baille may be passed when the end of the baille plate is inserted inthe slot 40. The

lateral extension slot 42 is spaced somewhat from the bottom of the vertical slot 40 and the slots 40 and 4I 'are somewhat longer that the width of thereduced ends 38 and 39 of the baille plates. Therefore, the reduced end 38 may first be inserted through the slot 4I) and extension slot 42 and then the opposite reduced end 39 of the baffle may be inserted in the oppositely disposed reflector slot 4I as shown. The ends of the baille plates are notched at 44 and 45, respectively, so that the plate will be retained against longitudinal movement when in its operative latched position. The lug 43 provides a hinge for the baffle plate so that, when it is desired to service the lighting unit, it is only necessary to move the baille plate 31 to the left (Fig. '1) and the plate will then pivot on the lug 43 and remain suspended in the position shown in dotted lines.

After the unit is serviced, it is only necessary.

Also, the method of mounting the control units eliminates circuit noises and enables complete bench Wiring of the control units, and permits erecting the housings in the ceiling independently of the reflectors or so-called coffers.

The lighting units may extend the entire lengthof a ceiling if desired or one or more sections may be used as desired. In Figs. l and 2 the end sections are each provided withan end wall 46 and small pans 41 and panels 48 are used together with full size panels to close the remainder of the coffer spaces.

It is intended, of course, that the invention should not be limited to the specic embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described this invention` what is 'claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patentis:

l. An illuminated ceiling comprising a framework having spaced runners forming alternate panel spaces and coller spaces therebetween,-

2. A ceiling structure comprising a supporting frame constructed to provide panel spaces and intermediate coller spaces, sound absorbent ceiling panels removably supported in said panel spaces, lighting fixtures supported in said coller spaces, said lighting fixtures comprising elongated trough reflectors in end-to-end abutting relation and having their open edges substantially flush with said panels, said reflectors being coextensive with said panel spaces and forming an substantially arcuately curved continuation of the surface of said panels at each side of a coller space and of a sumciently large curvature to cause material light diffusion adjacent the edge of the reflector and prevent a sharp line light cutoff at said edge, and means to support elongated light sources in said reflector.

3. In an illuminated sound absorbent ceiling structure, cross beams suspended from a permanent support, spaced hangers suspended from said beams to provide alternate panel spaces and coller spaces between rows of said hangers, runners secured adjacent the lower ends of said hangers, said runners having means associated therewith to removably support foraminated panels in said panel spaces, sound absorbent material supported on said panels, elongated coller-like reflectors in said coller spaces with their open edges flush with said panels, and clips on said runners and adapted to support said reflectors.

4. A ceiling structure comprising a supporting frame having-spaced rows of vertical hangers' providingalternate elongated panel spaces and coller spaces, a panel-supporting runner horizontally supported on each row of hangers, sound absorbent panels in said panel spaces and supported by said runners, lighting fixtures in said coller spaces and comprising elongated abutting reflector sections having their open sides substantially flushwith said panels, brackets longitudinally adjustable on said runners between said hangers and independently of said hangers and panels, and means for securing said reflectors to said`adjustable brackets whereby the open edges of said reflectors are substantially flush with the surface of said panels and closely adjacent thereto so that the reflector surface forms substantially an arcuate continuation of the panel surface.

5. A ceiling structure comprising a supporting frame having rows of spaced depending hangers,`a panel-supporting runner Secured to each row of dependent hangers to form alternate elongated panel spaces and cofer spaces, ceiling panels supported by said runners in said panel spaces, elongated lighting ilxtures in said coffer spaces, said lighting fixtures comprising elongated control units supported by said dependent brackets and having resilient sound absorbent material therebetween, said control units being mounted to enable limited vertical movement, comparatively deep trough-like reflectors substantially bell-shaped in cross section in said coller spaces below said control units and adapted to be pushed upwardly against said control units during ceiling assembly to enable relative self adjustment therebetween, and means to support said reflectors on said runners whereby the open edges of said reilectors are substantially ilush`with the panel surfaces and the reflector surface forms an arcuate continuation of said panel surface.

6. In an illuminated ceiling, spaced rows of vertical hangers for supporting said ceiling, verasians? tically adjustable brackets on said hangers, a horizontal runner secured to each row of brackets to provide alternate panel spaces and coller spaces therebetween, panels supported by said runners. a plurality of horizontally adjustable brackets on said runners, lighting fixtures in said coller spaces and comprising elongated trough reilectors having their open sides flush with said panels and coextensive with said coller spaces, the edges of said reflectors being secured to said horizontally adjustable brackets.

7. In an illuminated ceiling the combination with a framework adapted to provide alternate panel spaces and coller spaces and having ceiling panels in said panel spaces and elongated flush type trough reflectors in saidcoffer spaces.

of elongated control units supported 0n said framework by means of a cushion-likevibration absorbing support, said units having sockets extending into said reflectors to support light source elements, and means for mounting said units for self adjustment relative to said refiectors duringassembly of said ceiling.

8. In an illuminated acoustical ceiling structure, rows of spaced hangers depending from a permanent support, runners secured adjacent the lower ends of said hangers to, provide -alternate panel spaces and coller spaces therebetween, acoustical tile having upturned edges constructed for co-operative snap engagement with said runners to support said tile, elongated fluorescent control units in said coffer spaces and supported by said hangers for limited vertical and lateral self adjustment with trough-like reflectors inserted in said coller spaces and supported by said runners.

9. In an illuminated acoustical ceiling structure, rows of spaced hangers depending from a support, runners secured adjacent the lower ends of said hangers to provide alternate panel spaces and cofer spaces therebetween, acoustical tile having upturned edges constructed for co-operative snap engagement with said runners to support said tile, elongated fluorescent control units in said coffer spaces and materially above said tile and supported for limited universal self adjustment with reflectors inserted thereunder and having dependent sockets to support fluorescent tubes, elongated trough-like co'ffer reflector sections in said coller spaces in self-adjusting contactual relation with said control units with said sockets extending within said reflectors to support fluorescent tubes therebetween, said reflectors being coextensive with said coffer spaces and with their open sides substantially flush with the face of said panels, and means for supporting said reflectors by said runners.

10. In an illuminated ceiling, a row of hangers dependent from a support, a runner associated with said row of hangers, tile associated with said runner, said tile and said runner having complementary connecting portions interengaged to support said tile on said runner, a trough-like reflector snugly adjacent said tile with its open side substantially ilush therewith,

and a plurality of longitudinally adjustable' ing clamping flanges to receive the edge flanges of an acoustical tile in suspended supporting relation therebetween, means engaging the horizontal base of'said runner for securing said runner to each of the hangers inl a row, an elongated trough-like reflector section snugly adjacent said tile with its open side substantially flush therewith, and a plurality of brackets slidable on the baseof said runner andy having depending portions secured to the edge of said reflector in supporting relation at predetermined spaced points whereby said reflector section is supported adjacent each end by a bracket closely adjacent a hanger and whereby said flexible runner is secured to said more rigid reflector intermediate said end brackets.

12. In an illuminated acoustical ceiling having rows of hangers depending from a support and a sheet metal panel and reflector supporting runner secured to said hangers and having a horizontal base portion and a portion for supporting engagement with acoustical tile, a plurality of brackets longitudinally adjustable on said runners between said hangers, said brackets comprising a portion embracing said runner base portion and a depending portion secured to the flange of a coiler reflector for supporting said reflector lwith its open side substantially ilush with said tile.

13. In an illuminated acoustical ceiling, the combination with a substantially T-shaped runner for supporting acoustical tile below said runner, of brackets longitudinally adjustable on said runner, said brackets comprising two strap-like portions adapted to embrace the head of said T'shaped runner, means to secure said portions together on said runner, one of said portions having an arm depending below said runner, and a cofter reflector secured to said arm with its open side substantially flush with an acoustical tile supported by said runner.

14. In an illuminated acoustical ceiling, a suspended runner, an acoustical tile, and an elongated comparatively deep trough-like reflector with their edges in flush juxtaposition below said runner and suspended therefrom, and an elongated fluorescent light source in said reflector, the inner reflecting surface of said reflector being arcuate with one or more centers of curvature remote from said light source and the reflecting surface adjacent said panel being substantially arcuate or rounded outwardly toward said panel suiiiciently to form a convex continuation of the panel surface and prevent sharp light line cutofi.

15. In an illuminateda coustical ceiling, a suspended runner, an acoustical tile, and an elongated comparatively' deep trough-like reflector with their edges in flush juxtaposition below said runner and suspended therefrom, an elongated fluorescent light source in said reflector, the inner reflecting surface of said reflector being arcuate with one or more centers of curvature remote from said light source and the reflecting surface adjacent said panel being substantially arcuate or rounded outwardly toward said panel sufficiently to form a convex continuation of the panel surface and prevent sharp light line cutoil, and freely removable baille plates removably mounted in opposed slots in said reflector and loosely hinged thereto at one end so that they may be laterally moved to release one end and suspended from said reilector bythe hinged end to enable removal or insertion of saidlight source, the lower edges of said baille plates being substantially flush with the lower edges of said reectm' and the lower surface of said ceiling and substantially coextensive with the width of the open side of said reflector so that said ceiling has a substantially flat appearance when vviewedv angularly thereto. i y

16. In anv illuminated acoustical tile ceilins,

elongated sectional iluorescent lighting nxtures supported in said ceiling between rows of tile,

said xtures comprisings plurality of elongated of substantially the same length as its associated control unit and secured together in end-to-end partially abutting and partially overlapping relation to provide an aligned inner reflecting surface with openings therebetween for said sockets to extend therethrough into said reflectors when said reflectors are mounted in said ceiling and snugly against said housings, and means to support said reflectors independently of said housings and with their open sides substantially flush with said tile.

i7. In an illuminated ceiling comprising spaced panels and an intermediate trough-like reflector with its lower edges substantially flush with the lower surface of said panels, said reflector having oppositely disposed vertical slots adjacent its edges and an opening forming a lateral extension ci' one of said slots, a baille plate extending into said reflector and with its lower edge substantially flush with the lower surface of said panels and with the lower edges of said reflector, said baille plate having its opposite ends resting on the bottoms of the respective slots, a lateral lug adjacent one end of said baille plate and insertable through said lateral extension opening dur" ing the operation of inserting the baille ends in said slots, said baille being longitudinally, movable in said slots whereby one end may be released` whereby some of said brackets are positionable M in accordance with said hangers for securing thereto and intermediate `brackets are positionable in accordance with predetermined portions of said reflector for securing thereto, means toA enable vertical adjustment oi' the runner-supporting brackets on said hangers, and means accessible from the face of said ceiling to removably support said reflector so that said vertical adjusting means is accessible by removal of said reflector.

STEPHEN P. WALKER. ALBERT A. SCHRAMM. 

